José Flores, 119, Could Be the World's Oldest Living Man
José Flores, born on 11 July 1907 in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is 119 years old and lives in a modest wooden house in Obandito de Sardinal, Carrillo canton, near the Nicoya Peninsula – a region known as a “Blue Zone” for its high concentration of centenarians. His family is gathering documentation to have the Gerontology Research Group verify his age, which would make him the oldest living man, surpassing the current oldest woman, 116‑year‑old Briton Ethel Catheram, and approaching the record of Jeanne Calment (122 years 164 days). Flores attributes his longevity to a routine of hard work, daily prayer, and a simple, healthy diet, and he remains active despite hearing loss and knee problems, using a walker for mobility. He receives about 150,000 colones (≈ USD 330) per month and lives in poverty, cared for by his granddaughter Helen Flores Arias.
Entities: Ellen Flores · Ethel Catheram · Gerontology Research Group · Jeanne Calment · Jose Flores · Nicoya Peninsula
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] He uses a walker due to knee problems and suffers from hearing loss. (family observation)
- [● 4 SOURCES] He lives in a wooden house in Obandito de Sardinal, Carrillo canton, near the Nicoya Peninsula. (family description)
- [● 2 SOURCES] He receives about 150,000 colones (≈ USD 330) per month and lives in poverty. (family financial disclosure)
- [● 4 SOURCES] He attributes his longevity to working hard, trusting God, and eating healthy foods typical of the Nicoya Blue Zone. (personal statement)
- [● 4 SOURCES] If verified, he would surpass the current oldest living woman, 116‑year‑old Briton Ethel Catheram, and approach the record of Jeanne Calment (122 years 164 days). (comparative record analysis)
- [● 4 SOURCES] José Flores was born on 11 July 1907 in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. (civil registry records)
- [● 4 SOURCES] His family is seeking verification from the Gerontology Research Group to confirm his status as the world's oldest living man. (family effort)
- [● 4 SOURCES] He is 119 years old as of July 2024. (age calculation from birth date)